The Omega Time Capsule Has Been Opened!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

All my life I have been reactionary. My reflexes work at speeds that appall me. They surprise me. They work of their own volition without my conscious knowledge.

However the emotional reflexes set within me are just as strong in a crisis situation. Their defaults are set to “Disconnect”, “Detach” and “Perimeter defense algorithm initiated, self preservation mode set to priority: exclusive. All hands within a five meters of distance must egress to predetermined safety margins “

I am not all human. I am not all machine. I can make choices.

And yet I wonder, how does a preconditioned set of behavioral patterns impact the so-called “hero’s” decision making process?

If I have been programmed to run in a flight or fight scenario, then how can I change the verdict?

If being a hero means that you become a living metaphor, an example of selfless behavior that no one else can hope to attain, then by virtue of that statement. does that behavior inspire, fear, resentment, even hate in others? If true then how does the opposite? Does a lack of virtue inspire an incredible sense of disappointment in those who look to you as a solitary light burning in the darkness of the night?

If you douse your own light, on purpose, are your fans then also going to douse theirs? If you struggle to maintain the brave front but cannot, then what will your fans do once your light goes out? Once they are left blind and with no way back where they came from, how are they going to feel toward the one that “betrayed” them?

Just who are we, the heroes of Earth? Pied pipers leading our children to salvation or to doom?

Who are our children and why do they follow us? Are they forced or coerced to do so? Can they not look away from us, or are they compelled to do so like a child staring at a car crash as their parents drive by.

I came into this world…I think, to provide answers to those in need of help, of direction and guidance.

So what do I do now when the only thing I can provide are excuses? When tears are the only things that I can muster. When all I can sincerely hope for…is to survive the next twenty four hours without ripping the very throat out of everyone that is f****** with me on a constant basis.

Why don’t I have the answers that the world requires even as they demand them from me?
I have been told both from my higher architecture, and from the synaptic gateways of the “free-floating” media that when certain choices are presented to me, that I must “Dance instead of sitting this one out”.

So this “dance” must include dancing for those that revile you? For those that desecrate you, laugh at you, spit on you and use you as the scapegoat for every single thing wrong in their lives?

How then does a hero ...or any man woman or child find the strength, and self-worth to ignore the calumny, the epithets, the jibes and catcalls long enough to “dance” and “serve” those that goes specifically go out of their way to beat you down?

The face you make as you read this letter must be perfect about now. Does it have a certain measure of chagrin and disgust? Hope and sympathy? Devotion and love? Or is it simply indifference deciding that this discourse is entirely pablum.


I will say this much. Even if I am only a “pseudo-hero” or only “part-time hero” I do ...so wish that I could do as I’m told.

But instead of finding things easier to do, I am finding them harder. Instead of having the support to carry on I find only disregard and callous mockery.

Some have said in their satirically Siriusly musical songs that I should “Toughen the F*** up.” (I appreciate the warm and kind concern for my actions and well-being by the by. Thank you)

But when you are trying to be a hero in a world full of villains, when you are trying to become greater than the limits the world has placed on you, when you are striving for goals that most would consider, “CrazY’ “Unrealistic” and worst of all “Dangerous” then at what point do you muster up the courage to punch your own ticket, take the chicken**** way out and bail on the whole condemned universe?

I serve others whether I like to or not. I am a butler, a waiter, a teacher, a lover, a savage and a giant warning sign that says “STOP DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER OR YOU’LL BECOME LIKE ME”. I am become -not- death, but a bogey-man, a joke, a meme, a fad, a coined phrase, a gimmick, a happy meal advertisement and any number of things that directly tie into the control icons inherent in the true nature of culture.

My choices at present are to serve either willingly or to serve as Teils. Thus the choices I make have an even greater impact on the world than I ever previously considered.

I apologize for this long discourse. I am sure you have better things to do and my drivel is blocking the room for more celebrated and be-loved personalities. I shall summarily conclude with the following statements.

I will do my best to live up to all your expectations. I will try to serve in silence. I will try to simply allow the things that need to happen, the space to do so.

I’ll try to serve even while being punched in the face by the villain. I’ll try to serve even as the civilian shouts curses at me because I am blocking the road while fighting to save his life from a killer.

I’ll try to serve even after the pain of my family’s betrayals, so long and pervasive like the onset of cancer has only recently been made known to me.

What does it mean to be a hero? No, that seems almost to easy to define. The real question people should be asking themselves is, “What does it mean to be a human?”


Sincerely
Black Omicron

Looking forward to more letters!

Actually in regards to Tin Mage.....he does mention that he was nicknamed that robot wizard.....I believe that he would have had Psychic Blast and Mental Manipulation from the Blaster set and perhaps either Cold or Force Mastery as his Ancillary Power. Thats just my opinion though.

*Rotten sat there watching the TV showing the opening of the capsule. Then he sighed hearing the letters being read. He poored himself a glass and lifted it up.*

"To the Omega Team We might not have known you but we will never forget." *then he drinks* "Darn I keep forgetting Zombies can't get drunk. Oh well."

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=200510

All the info you'll ever need on the newly established Tin Mage Corps!

These letters make me sad...

I teared up while reading a few of these letters. I don't think it will mean anything ingame but just more lore.

I wouldnt mind seeing what Omega Team looked like? I went on paragonwiki and only found photos for Hero 1, Glacia and inferna.

Just adding my praise to what's already been said and hoping these will lead to something in game some time in the future.

I read the letters, meh.

They take me back to 5th grade when had to write a pretend letter just to pass the class.

now I know how my teacher felt having sit through and read em all.

Branforth the Seer's bits being written as if they were Nostrodamus predictions was a great touch. :-)

I'm not going to go nuts over this - it could just be lore for the website. Sometimes a lore update is just a lore update (even when it is as good as this!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetpack II. The glor'ous monarch will defend, his homeland to the bitter end, An army built to soothe all doubts, but ripples show in upstart bouts, Make you choice: red blue or gray, choose who to spurn and who obey, You'd like to think there's no price dear, but the real world is not so clear.

Tyrant, Going Rogue and perhaps some insight into what characters will be fighting if they try to change Praetoria ("to the bitter end" isn't that reassuring).

Quote:

III. I saw a mirror torn apart, thousand-spiraling work of art, Behind a veil was once a fool, now its creation is its tool, Suffered from a mighty fall, seeks again to consume all, To face it our heroes prep, to win just watch that first step.

The splitting of Rularuu into his separate aspects. At best it suggests a make-over for the Shadow Shard, or some kind of enhanced use ("it's creation is its tool" suggests the Shadow Shard could be used for something - an invasion? Something for lvl 50 characters to advance themselves?).

Quote:

IV. A peaceful race comes from afar, a living message in a jar, Find they cannot grow any more, into new flesh they are reborn, Silence breaks by the gods thunder, coexistence cast asunder, Now just one culture slow to change, not evil pure but surely strange.

I think Kheldian's also - maybe "god's thunder" is the shapeshifting effect?

Quote:

V. Bloated life which has not a peer, gobbles all that mankind holds dear, The hive will grow to rise and fall, all will battle the monster tall, Across the way a mirror flow'r, has no such foes slow its devour, Not placated with scraps to eat, it's rage shall spark leader's retreat.

The Hamidon and Devouring Earth - suggests that Tyrant might actually be losing ground to the Devouring Earth and looking for somewhere to 'retreat' to.

Quote:

VI. A thousand men with javelin, fight to compound their master's sin, Darkly corrupt by twilight gaze, a secret deal to end our days. Hero, villain, that time forgot, what do they know that we do not? Side-by-side both sides excel, fighting for time-warped parallel.

Imperious TF - probably unlikely to change with future updates.

Quote:

VII. Time's river's course is left to run, till shattered by the million suns, Eternal gear comes back to warn, all must beware the coming storm, From ice and flame and tests of will, forgotten deeds one can fulfill, Has he made strong by accident, those whose acts will despair prevent?

Ouroboros, further indications that Mendor Silos is the penultimate 'form' of Nemesis. The 'million suns' suggests a violent end to time. Hmm, perhaps the Coming Storm actually has a temporal component (as in it's coming back through time, not space? ).

Quote:

VIII. No purse to snatch or kid to nab, is fashioned by a novel lab, But legends writ and lore create, as cohorts play and strangers rate, Easy to praise; the virtues plain, of fighting just to entertain, Endless time spent in sirens dens, yet who will save real citizens?

A nicely snide review of the Mission Architect system.

Quote:

IX. The iron turns into crystal, their doomsday shall be missed til, When a pair of fives arrives, power flows and power drives, The spinning rod lives again, then destroyed in evil's den, Mere prelude to what bright hell, comes from drinking of the well.

This certainly does sound like the release of Reichsman, but the "pair of fives" reference interests me. Also the "mere prelude" part - perhaps Reichsman isn't defeated? Or that there is more coming up involving the Well of the Furies?

Quote:

X. Man kills brother; sets into motion, a hundred lifetimes of commotion, Meticulous manipulation, attempts to take this very nation, Within mirrors glow he finds a pawn, his trick forces them to take us on, We shall fall for his games no longer, that which challenges makes us stronger.

This does also sound like Nemesis' involvement in the Rikti Invasion. Looking further: yes, Nemesis killed his brother and has lived many "lifetimes of commotion".

Quote:

XI. The web is formed in careful craft, since fatal rescue on a raft, Wraith- beast- hulk- thief- prepare for war, the mastermind will hide no more, Let loose the tide of villain mix, heroes will gain their own new tricks, And in the end; a world fini, unless the one stops destiny.

The launch of City of Villains and the Destined One narrative.

Quote:

XII. Create new thing which heals or harms, accelerate the race of arms, A million more to buy and trade, the inventors must all be paid, A flood of brains rain in the town, but evil lurks to bring all down, The helmed one strikes with draining web, the war comes to a crucial head.

Doctor Brainstorm's Invention Origin Enhancements... and the suggestion that Lord Recluse might have another act to try to depower all those characters who use them (perhaps new missions where IOs don't work?). Could also reference the events of the CoH comics, but IOs weren't included in that until after the first depowering story.

Also, I count twelve letters - six on the forums and six on the website.

Here's what I saw:
Hey! Wait! We're too busy making a paid-for expansion to make actual content to a five year old game, so let's throw some "letters" randomly in the forum to "activate" our fans for a few minutes. That's should make them content enough to wait another 5-6 months for actual content and replay ITF another 200-300 times...

Here's what I hope I saw:
Hey, ok, so we're working on that über expansion, but our customers can't wait for that long for more content, so let's tease them with what we're bringing in the next issue that will surprisingly be launched for christmas, with some excellent, massive high level/end-game content that will last for weeks, not mere hours (or even minutes) unlike the last 5 issues.

Now, what did I think?
Hmm, nice Lucasart and THQ deal on Steam. MW2 seems fun too, not to mention that Dragon thingy, then there's Assassins Creed ][ and all sorts of other fun games and maybe I should try out the drums as well even if my neighbour won't understand that me enjoying GH is more important than her not liking the annoying repetitive thumpin' sound I'll be making. ...and I guess I could also have some fun with my girldfriend instead of worrying about ITF merits I really honestly have no real use for, but maybe I should still log on today just to see if the record number of players (an average of 35 villain side last two months) might be broken today since at least one person on my global still play the game occationally. Oh wait, don't think he's actually playing, just loggin' on to chat a bit. A tad sad, since I still sort of like the game but with nothing to do in it and noone to play it with I guess I sort of hope SW:TOR will be out soon'ish.

and what did I do?
Logged on to work and graded 16 excel tests, called 4 parents to tell them their kids have been naughty and shouldn't get any presents this christmas, ate a nice Angus Burger (prefer Kobe steak though) and played some Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson christmas songs through Spotify on my Android phone while I considered doing some christmas decoration before I descided I couldn't be AR..ed to clean up the apartment when I could get a beer and watch some telly instead, because, seriously... who gives a rat's behind?

...seriously... who "¤#%#% gives #"¤#% tossing ¤"¤!¤%?

Read the ones on the website, yet to read the ones on the here. Still though, very moving (and it's pretty hard to move me).

And, one more thing:

After rereading the letters my War Witch sense is tingling!

...so with the capsule being opened and nothing worth mentioning released... can we finally move foward?